Best Christmas events in London to make the most of in 2024

If there's a team more qualified to suggest exciting Christmas events, we'll eat our Santa hats! Here at RadioTimes.com, we look forward to all things Christmas-related. Whether you fancy seeing the best Christmas pantomimes, heading on a Christmas day out or taking in a Christmas show, festive play or musical, we've got you covered with our eclectic guides.

This year's London festive season is jam-packed full of an impressive range of events, from scavenger hunts, to carriage rides, to orchestral performances. So, grab your best winter coat and prepare your best festive cheer, this Christmas is going to be one to remember.

Looking to bring some festive spirit to your home? These are the best Christmas light projectors.

Best Christmas events in London at a glance:

• Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink, from £14
• Christmas at the Movies (by Candlelight Concerts), from £17.50
• Horrible Histories: Horrible Christmas, from £18.66
• Christmas by Candlelight, from £22
• Christmas at Kew Gardens, from £22.50
• A Night at the Opera by Candlelight, from £29
• London Tootbus Christmas lights tour, from £30
• Christmas Classics with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, from £30
• A Christmas Carol and Charles Dickens Walking Tour, from £87
• Winter Rides In Richmond Park, from £450 for six people

Best Christmas events in London for 2024

London Tootbus Christmas lights tour

There are plenty of famous Christmas events in London, but one of the standouts has got to be the famous London Christmas lights. Whether you're taking in the angels on Oxford Street or being dazzled by the explosive colours on Carnaby Street, seeing the London Christmas lights up close is an unmissable experience.

The London Tootbus Christmas lights tour allows you to get up close and personal with every sparkle of the lights on Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and more. Get your tickets quickly- this experience is in very high demand.

Buy London Tootbus Christmas lights tour from £30 at Viator

Christmas at the Movies (by Candlelight Concerts)

We're big fans of candlelight concerts here at RadioTimes.com, and the only way to make this experience even better is by including Christmas music. This special concert is brought to you by The London Concertante and features music from classic festive movies including Elf, Home Alone, Love Actually and more.

This year, the concert will take place on Saturday 21st December at Southwark Cathedral.

Buy Christmas at the Movies (by Candlelight Concerts) tickets from £17.50 at Fever

A Christmas Carol and Charles Dickens walking tour

Whether you're a lover of literature or just a big fan of the Muppets Christmas Carol, you're sure to learn a lot about Charles Dickens and discover hidden parts of London with this Christmas Carol and Charles Dickens walking tour.

You'll be in a small group of six, meaning you'll get lots of personal attention from your guide, who will help you discover hidden London taverns, alleyways and courtyards- and who knows, you might even find the true meaning of Christmas along the way.

Buy A Christmas Carol and Charles Dickens walking tour from £87 at Viator

Here on the Going Out team, we like to review the things we recommend, just take a look at The Lehman Trilogy review, Why am I so Single? review, and Witness for the Prosecution review.

Christmas at Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens is one of London's most beautiful green spaces, brimming with gorgeous greenhouses, impressive palaces and cool botanical plants. When Christmastime arrives, the place transforms into another world, full of twinkling lights and festive cheer.

Christmas at Kew is a stunning light trail across Kew Gardens; what better way to brighten up those long winter nights?

This year, Christmas at Kew will run from Wednesday 13th November 2024 to Sunday 5th January 2025.

Buy Christmas at Kew tickets from £22.50 at See Tickets

If you're stuck on what to buy your loved ones in the run up to the festive season, why not opt for one of our picks of the best Christmas gift experiences?

Christmas by Candlelight

It's time to warm up those vocal cords, and not just with mulled wine this time! Christmas is all about coming together, and the Christmas by Candlelight at 235 Shaftesbury Avenue event allows attendees to take part in some congregational carol singing, as well as enjoying composer pieces and festive choral works performed by the the Belmont Ensemble and the Trafalgar Sinfonia.

This event is taking place every weekend in December leading up to Christmas this year, so you have plenty of chances to share your festive spirit, as well as your undoubtedly beautiful singing voice.

Buy Christmas by Candlelight tickets from £22 at Fever

Horrible Histories: Horrible Christmas

If you're looking for the perfect combination of fun and learning for your kids, then look no further than the sometimes rude, always interesting Horrible Histories. Their Horrible Christmas shows tell the story of a young boy tasked with saving Christmas, alongside some Victorian villains, medieval monks and familiar faces including Oliver Cromwell and Charles Dickens.

Head on down to Alexandra Palace Theatre from now until on 4th January to enjoy this truly Horrible Christmas event in London.

Buy Horrible Histories: Horrible Christmas tickets from £18.66 at See Tickets

If you're on the look out for more kids theatre shows, then do we have the guide for you!

Christmas Classics with London Philharmonic Orchestra

Experience classic festive tunes, from traditional carols such as 'Hark The Herald Angels Sing' to Christmas pop favourites like 'Winter Wonderland' like you've never heard them before. On Sunday 17th December, the Philharmonic Orchestra will be reinterpreting Christmas classics in Royal Festival Hall.

It's the perfect way to end a day strolling through London's many Christmas markets. You'll even have the chance to join in singing with friends, family and event host YolanDa Brown.

Buy Christmas classics with the Philharmonia Orchestra tickets from £30 at Southbank Centre

If you enjoy music, but you struggle with loud music, take a look at our Loop Earplugs explainer. Plus, we tried and tested the earplugs for six months in our Loop Earplugs review.

Winter Rides in Richmond Park

Richmond Park is beautiful at any time of the year, but it's especially magical during the festive season- and there's no better way to see it than from a carriage drawn by The Royal Parks Shire horses.

The ticket price includes tea and refreshments before the ride and a tour of the stables, too, and ticket proceeds help fund sustainable conservation initiatives with the working Shire horses in The Royal Parks.

Buy Winter Rides In Richmond Park tickets from £450 for six people at See Tickets

For more fun days and nights out, check out our Going Out section where we share recommendations for all types of activities, from the best West End shows to the best UK stargazing experiences.

A Night at the Opera by Candlelight

Opera fans, clear your schedule. A Night at the Opera by Candlelight is guaranteed to help you celebrate your pre-Christmas weekends in style. These performances are heading to various UK cities, such as Lincoln, Edinburgh, Manchester and Liverpool this November

Buy A Night at the Opera by Candlelight tickets from £29 at See Tickets

Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink

There's no experience that's more festive than ice skating, and now you have the chance to do it in front of one of England's most iconic buildings: Hampton Court Palace. From 22nd November 2024 until 5th January 2025, an ice rink will be installed in front of the palace, where you and your loved ones can go for a skate.

Hampton Court Palace is located in Bushy Park, meaning that you can enjoy a scenic winter stroll before or after your skating session. Bliss.

Buy Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink tickets from £14 at SeeTickets